WARRENSBURG, Mo. – In its first ranked matchup of 2025, the Maryville baseball team suffered a heartbreaking loss to No. 3-ranked Central Missouri to the tune of a 7-6 final score.
 
Ambrose Russo, the Saints transfer centerfielder, led all players with three RBIs, while Matt Arnold added on two RBIs on a 2-3 day.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
In midweek action, both squads relied heavily on their bullpens all day, with the Saints sending out seven arms to the Mules eight. UCM jumped over Maryville's opener, scratching across a run in the first and second innings. Russo's first RBI in the top of the third was the first response of the day for the Dawgs, but the Mules took the blow and gave it right back making it 3-1 with steal and go play in the bottom half of the frame.
 
With the home team having made their early run, it was time for the Saints bats to get hot, starting with a massive two-RBI single by Arnold. Just an inning later, Michael Long gave the Saints the lead with a single to left center.
 
 
Braeden Sunken, with the lead, then tossed the most impressive inning of the day, going three-up-three down, all of them via punchies in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Russo added on his impressive day in the sixth with another RBI, scoring Brady Kindhart in the process. However, the Mules refused to go away on their home turf, scoring in the bottom half, before plating three in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Russo attempted to spark a rally in the top of the ninth, blasting his second home run of the season to deep left center to make it a one run ballgame, but the Mules shut the door against the next three Saints.
 
UP NEXT
The Saints welcome in the Drury Panthers for a four-game non-conference series starting on Friday, Feb. 28, and concluding on Sunday, March 2. Friday's first pitch is set for 2 p.m.